Chebii Sets Lille Half-Marathon Record

Ezekiel Chebii shattered the course record in Lille, France. Photo: Running Team Simba

It was a good day for Kenya in the French city.

Ezekiel Chebii prevailed at the Lille Half Marathon on Saturday. His finishing time was 59 minutes and five seconds. The previous best had been held by Ethiopia’s Tilahun Regassa, who ran 59:36 four years ago.

Chebii also set a new personal best in the race. His previous half-marathon PR had been 59:22 at the Berlin Half Marathon earlier this year.

Second place also went to a Kenyan as Bernard Koech came across the finish in 59:10. The third runner to finish was Eliud Kipchoge, who was making a debut at the 13.1-mile distance. His finishing time on Saturday was 59:25–the second-fastest half-marathon debut in the world.

Kipchoge, 27, won the world championship at the 5000m distance in 2003 and also went on to win the Olympic silver medal in the same distance at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

Flomena Chepchirchir won the women’s race with a 1:08:06, a personal best for her.

Diane Chepkemoi took second in 1:08:08, while Priscah Jepleting was third in 1:08:35.

Duncan Larkin

Duncan Larkin is a freelance journalist and author who’s been covering the sport of running for over a decade. He’s run 2:32 in the marathon and won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race in 2007. He wrote the book RUN SIMPLE, and coaches runners of all abilities.
You can learn more about him here: http://roadsmillslaps.tumblr.com/about